In early reviews, geeks raved about Windows 7. But if you're an ordinary mortal, learning what this new system is all about will be challenging. Fear not: David Pogue's Windows 7: The Missing Manual comes to the rescue. Like its predecessors, this book illuminates its subject with reader-friendly insight, plenty of wit, and hardnosed objectivity for beginners as well as veteran PC users.

Windows 7 fixes many of Vista's most painful shortcomings. It's speedier, has fewer intrusive and nagging screens, and is more compatible with peripherals. Plus, Windows 7 introduces a slew of new features, including better organization tools, easier WiFi connections and home networking setup, and even touchscreen computing for those lucky enough to own the latest hardware.

With this book, you'll learn how to:

Navigate the desktop, including the fast and powerful search function

Take advantage of Window's apps and gadgets, and tap into 40 free programs

Breeze the Web with Internet Explorer 8, and learn the email, chat, and videoconferencing programs

Record TV and radio, display photos, play music, and record any of these to DVD using the Media Center

David Pogue

David Pogue, Yale '85, is the weekly personal-technology columnist for the New York Times and an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News. His funny tech videos appear weekly on CNBC. And with 3 million books in print, he is also one of the world's bestselling how- to authors. In 1999, he launched his own series of amusing, practical, and user-friendly computer books called Missing Manuals, which now includes 100 titles.

1. I use the Index and find exactly what I amlooking for. I like having my resource close at hand when I am actually working the computer.2. Have found that there were many things available on Windows 7 that I never heard about and now understand the ribbon. Was so frustrated with the changes with the tool bar. Wish this manual had come with the computer.

I bought this book to serve as a general reference/manual and installation guide for a computer I built. It's comprehensive in that it delves into most aspects of the Windows 7 operating system without going too deep into subjects that require another book (e.g., the registry). It will certainly be of value to anyone of beginner to advanced-intermediate status for Windows 7.

It either explains tooo much using tech terms that older (76 yrs) don't understand or it doesn't explain enough. I was completely happy with Windows XP and could accomplish things that I wanted with it.

For a user (e.g. me) of Win2kSp4 and WinXPsp3, this is a very complete reference, with an excellent index. But it is huge (as Win7 is also). If your time is scarce, browse and then focus on sections relevant to you.So far, my only disappointment is that although the book came out in 2010, apparently it still has no ServicePack 1 information.

A nice guide to anyone with basic and average computer skills. But like all guides, it also wastes too much of time focusing on basics. Although the chapters are pretty much detailed, but again, they don't go really deep. It's not up to its price.

As one of the older ganeration with limited computer experience, I have found this manual invaluable. After three years using XP on a laptop I thought I was getting the hang of things, then my new PC arrived with Windows 7. Looking for help from within the system was more than difficult, it just tells you how good it is, not how to use it. David Pogues' book has been a saviour for me. Easily understood instructions, relaxed style of writing, takes all the stress out of learning a new system. It may not suit the young geeks who have had computers at thier finger tips all their lives, but for older mortals who want to get on terms with Windows 7, this is the Manual for you. The simply explained troubleshootng advice has even saved a few payments to the local Tech man.

Pogue is the biggest fraud I've ever come across. I'm convinced all the gushing reviews on [@] and such are written by friends or bought and paid for. O'Reilly's so called "honest" review program is a farce. In all my years of reading, this is the worst computer book I've ever purchased. Pogue's attemtps at humor only made it worse. Don't buy this or anything else by Pogue.

This Tome really helps; When mounting W~7 on wifes machine a real boost to carry on with confidence. Less fear of what's past the wait time; will what started really happen. Looking forward to my evening read.

"Windows 7 is the best-reviewed, best-loved Microsoft operating system ever. It brings you security, speed, good looks, and several trillion new features – but it still comes without a single page of printed instructions. Fortunately, award-winning author and New York Times columnist David Pogue is back, ready to serve as your clear, funny, expert guide to the world of Windows 7." So says the back of this wonderful book on Windows 7 Despite being an experienced Windows user and having spent much time using Windows 7, I learned a lot while reading this book. The book begins by teaching you a basic understanding of the Windows 7 interface and goes all the way through to maintenance and high-level tweaks. Every user will gain something from this book. It is a worthwhile purchase and read for all levels of understanding. I give fair warning to more experienced users. Portions of the book will bore you. Despite this, "Windows 7: The Missing Manual" is a great resource. You don't need to read this book cover-to-cover. You can just read the sections that are relevant to you. Of special interest to me were the appendices. Appendix A teaches you the different ways you can install Windows 7 and how to move your data and settings over to the new install. Appendix B shows you how to perform some very cool registry tricks to spice up Windows 7 and make it run more your own way. Appendix C helps you find all the items that you loved in previous versions of Windows that have disappeared in Windows 7. Appendix D takes you through a review of common keyboard shortcuts as well as several new ones that are very helpful.All in all, I think "Windows 7: The Missing Manual" is a very worthwhile purchase and I highly recommend it.